Severe Child Abuse Alleged by Children at Ohio Mosque

Allegations of severe child abuse at an Ohio madrassah (Islamic school) are being investigated by police after a group of Somali children (who attend a public school in the daytime) reported being chained to a wall by their wrists and ankles and beaten with a long stick for not learning their religious texts as instructed.

In addition, another child reported witnessing the beatings as well as being beaten himself on his legs with a belt. In addition, he reported having seen a student have his head stepped on for complaining of a headache.

The children, between the ages of eight and 10, all attend themadrassah located in the Masjid As-Salaamah mosque in Columbus.

The allegations came amid a normal day at Mark Twain Elementary school in Westerville, where a class of mostly Somali children learning English were having a discussion with their teacher. The teacher happened to remark that she was impressed with the children’s knowledge of the Koran.